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Trainer Dan Skelton made a strong start to his trainer’s championship bid with Boombawn winning the Grade 2 Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton on Saturday.
The seven-year-old gelding boasted plenty of experience over hurdles for connections including two handicap victories last season and made a successful start to his chasing career when winning at Warwick in May. Kept busy over the summer, including a disappointing effort in Market Rasen's Summer Plate, Boombawn came into the Wincanton race with a solid jumping record
Championship rival and former boss Paul Nicholls dominated the first three races on the card and fielded short price favourite Insurrection for the Grade 2 contest, who suffered major interference at the third last as Ben Pauling's Handstands fell. Long term leader Soul Icon struggled to hold onto his advantage and Boombawn was able to capitalise, staying on well over the last fence to overtake his rival for a neck success. Insurrection kept on for third.
Skelton said: "We are not getting the winter horses out yet as these two have been out over the summer, and I'm stopping short of calling it top class form, but for horses that like that ground it has got to be a good race.
"Fair play to the second as he has worn his heart on his sleeve, and jumped brilliantly, and he didn't really deserve to get caught. If I'm in second I'd feel gutted, but some days you win and some days you don't and Boombawn just had a little bit left at the end.
"Going to the last I thought we had him. Harry just saved a bit as he got that inner rail.
"A weird thing happened at Market Rasen. He got all unbalanced going into the straight and he never got going when we fancied him for the Summer Plate, but today he was a lot more like it. I'm just chuffed to bits for him.
"He wants a good gap between his races and if the ground starts softening up I'm not sure you will see him for a while.
"The Pendil (Novices' Chase at Kempton Park) would be an obvious starting point and we could get him back at the end of February if the ground is acceptable.
"He can't have a bad season full stop as he has just won a £75,000 race."